Nancy,
In two blacksmith shops I documented in Georgia (early 20th-mid 20th century), the blacksmiths weren't buying "old iron" as far as I could tell, they were collecting it from wherever they could get it (roadsides, etc.). Also, what kind of blacksmiths might you be talking about? Blacksmithing was/is not a monolithic craft.
David Rotenstein
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David S. Rotenstein, Ph.D.
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